Book Review

Introduction

This special issue comes in the usual soft cover and offers 114 pages, the last 27 of which being dedicated to the antitank weapons from 1916 to 2016. The text is in French.

Review

The main topic is covered in 3 chapters and illustrated by no less than 96 period pictures, 51 color profiles, 11 4-view drawings and 12 technical data charts.

Chapter 1, “Pre-war multi-turreted heavy tanks”, covers the first concepts designed in Russia before WWI, the British Mark V captured from the Imperial Army by the Red Army, the British Independent A1E1, the T-39, TG-5, the various models of the T-35, the T-42 and the following T-35 variants: SU-14, SU-14-1 and SU-14-Br-2. It concludes with the T-35 in action during Barbarossa.

Chapter 2, “Klimenti Voroshilov”, covers the SMK, the T-100 and its variants, the KV-1 and its different versions, the KV-85, the KV-220, the KV-3, the KV-4, the KV-5, the flame-thrower KV-8, , the KV-2, the SU-152 and various projects and prototypes. The authors deal more with the vehicles development than with their use in combat.

Chapter 3, “Stalin family of tanks”, covers the KV-13, the IS-1, the IS-2 and its versions, the IS-3, the IS-4, the IS-5, the IS-6, the IS-7, the IS-8, the T-10. The following variants are also covered: the ISU-152 and its versions, the ISU-122 and its versions, the post-war variants (Objekt 704, 263, 268, 2A3, 8K11 and T-5A) and the ARV BTT.

The second part is dedicated to the individual antitank weapons from the WWI rifle to the modern antitank missile. The WWI part obviously deals with the first antitank rifles. The WWII part begins with more antitank rifles. Then it presents the hollow charge and its use in grenades and rockets. It also mentions the landmines and some weird weapons such as the sticky bomb, the mine-dog, the cocktail Molotov.

The Cold War and present days part deals with the modern shoulder fired rockets and the guided missiles.

SUMMARY

Highs: A good overview of those Russian steel monsters.Lows: In my opinion, the antitank weapons would deserve a specific issue.Verdict: Keeping in mind it only has 114 pages, this is a great book on this topic.

Our Thanks to Caraktère Presse et Editions!This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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